Along with the indefinite strike of pro-BNP teachers and employees of non-government high schools, colleges and madrasas, the Awami League (AL) backed teachers and employees will go for indefinite strike across the country from tomorrow.

They are going for the strike to compel the government to accept their demands including 100 per cent basic salary from the govern-

ment exchequer.

The pro-BNP Shikkhak Karmachari Oikya Jote enforced indefinite strike was partially observed at non-government high schools, colleges and madrasas yesterday. However, it is expected that the strike would be strictly observed from tomorrow onwards as the pro-AL Jatiya Shikkhak-Karmachari Front will join the indefinite strike.

The principal demand of both

the platforms of non-government high schools, colleges and madrasas, is the same.

However, Minister for Education Osman Farruk yesterday said the demand of the teachers and employees could not be met yet due to lack of funds.

"We are very aware of the teachers and employees demands. Their principal demand of paying cent per cent basic salary as against the existing 90 per cent from the government exchequer will only be met if the Ministry for Finance and Planning allocates additional budget for it," the minister said in reply to a question at the parliament yesterday evening.

Shikkhak Karmachari Oikya Jote Chief Co-ordinator Selim Bhuiyan said they would not return to work until their 10-point demand is realised.

"Along with our indefinite strike, we decided to stage demonstrations and bring out processions at every upazila and district across the country from tomorrow," he said claiming that most of the nongovernment high schools, colleges and madrasas were kept closed on their first day of the indefinite strike yesterday.

Meanwhile, central committee of Jatiya Shikkhak-Karmachari Front asked the district committee to form a 21-member action committee comprising teachers, guardians and professionals to make the indefinite strike successful.

"Our district action committee would hold views-exchanging meetings with lawyers, journalists, engineers, agriculturists and other professionals from Saturday as we go on for countrywide indefinite strike," Prof Kazi Faruque Ahmed, chief co-ordinator and convenor of Jatiya Shikkhak-Karmachari Front told The Daily Star.

Another faction of pro-BNP Shikkhak Karmachari Oikya Jote, led by Shariful Islam, will start an indefinite strike from July 9 to realise their six-point demand which include the demand for 100 per cent basic salary from government coffers.

The teachers and employees of different platforms have been staging demonstrations and holding rallies, and bringing out processions since June 9 after the proposed budget was placed in parliament. The budget had no allocation of money to meet their demands.

Apart from the increase in the government's contribution to their salaries, they also want an increase in their house rent, full-fledged medical allowance and implementation of the recommendations by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) and the International Labour Organisation.